Still enjoying the thrill of the hunt after all these years

As a collector for over 45 years, I have been fortunate to meet many dealers and become friendly with quite a few.

It's wonderful to come into contact with professionals who have been in the business for many years and still enjoy what they know how to do best: deal with customers. People like silver specialists Howard and Myra Donowitz, whom I've had the pleasure of knowing for some 35 years.

It was on one of my hunting days at the Antique Center of America, which formerly stood on 54th St., between 1st Ave. and Sutton Place that I met them, while admiring some of the beautiful silver pieces exhibited in their display case. The young couple shared my interest in English history and period furniture; in fact, the name of their business was -- and still is -- The Tudor Rose.

MAKING A MOVE

When the antiques center closed its doors in 1978, Howie and Myra, young and fairly new to the business, relocated to an area where business was booming for other dealers. They set up their wonderful silver shop at East 10th St. betweeen Broadway and University Place, where it has been a permanent fixture for over 30 years.

They enjoy traveling, especially to England, where they visit castles and manor houses when not looking for items to bring back to the States.

The Donowitzes believe silver to be the perfect metal: It is malleable and can be hammered into various beautiful objects. And they enjoy researching and identifying silversmiths' marks to help date specific pieces and identify their origins.

The couple say they're still amazed when they stumble upon a great piece after all these years of handling thousands of images and pieces of silver and thinking they'd seen it all.

SPECIAL GIFTS

When customers are buzzed into their shop, looking for a gift, but not sure what they want, Howie and Myra not only walk them through the store and showing off their stock, but imparting tidbits of knowledge about the silver trade along the way.

Myra says functional pieces are a priority for those seeking a special gift. These include perfume bottles, picture frames, candlesticks and vases, to name but a few.

The Donowitzes' list of clients includes not only New Yorkers, but many out-of-towners who come to the Big Apple to do special shopping. Those clients who can't get into the shop can link onto their Web site (www.tudorroseantiques.com) and the couple will e-mail images of requested pieces.

The Donowitzes, for the most part, specialize in silver items of American and English origin, but European items also can be found in The Tudor Rose. Items like coffee and tea pots, salt and pepper shakers, flatware, wine coolers and a variety of other goodies, most dating from the 19th century, are there for the finding.

NO REGRETS

Quite a few dealers admit to regretting having sold certain pieces, because it often is difficult to replace them. I asked Howie and Myra if they ever regretted selling anything after all these years. They said they always were pleased to see that someone deemed a rare and important piece they purchased together good enough to bring into their home to cherish and appreciate for years to come.

One rarely finds a piece of silver dating to the 17th century in today's market, yet, the Donowitzes did sell a rare silver salver to a collector dating from that period a few years ago. It was one of the earliest pieces they had come by in years.

And, no, they said they didn't regret selling it, because the serious collector who purchased the salver still treasures it today.

Howie and Myra Donowitz are no strangers to publicity. They were written up in the January 2009 issue of Country Living Magazine and in 2008, in both Vogue and Martha Stewart Living. In the latter, they talked about cut, bright silver pieces that were borrowed from their shop, admitting they still are thrilled when their personal selections of silver are used for movie props, or when they are tapped for a photo to run with an article on silver.

Running a business is time-consuming and hard work. It takes years of patience and a lot of running around to build up a business and a client list. The Donowitzes advise anyone thinking of becoming a dealer that it is important to the success of your business that you be personable and go out of your way to please your customers.

The Tudor Rose has kept its doors open all these years largely because of its owners honesty and special brand of hospitality. They hold their customers in high esteem and greet them with open arms. Knowing them for so many years has brought me great joy. It is fascinating to see them still sharing their love of silver with and striving to serve the public after all this time.

George Way's Antiques column appears on the third Thursday of the month in Home.